Trust and Commitment in a Remote Team 

A couple of months ago, I made my first overseas trek since 2017 – not for vacation – but to meet with the rest of the Fritz Financial Solutions team of accountants in the Philippines. It was important to me to show these women the time and attention needed to cultivate our relationship and build trust between us – in both directions. 

I never imaged having a remote team, but a few years ago, after churning through several accountants who weren’t the right fit, I connected with an offshore partner who has recruited a team that has proven they are able to serve our clients better than anyone I had been able to hire previously.  

I’ve always felt that when you can connect with your employees on a personal level, you improve the quality of service you provide to clients. While we connect over Microsoft Teams video conferencing and try to recreate those classic watercooler conversations, nothing can substitute face-to-face time with the people who work for you. So, off to Ninoy Aquino International Airport I flew (with a couple of stops on the way!)  

In Clarke Freeport Zone, a corporate development within Angeles City, I worked alongside my talented team. As leaders, it’s critical to be willing to do what you ask others to do, so I got down to business and worked the night shift and directly experienced its challenges. I knew in my head that it would be difficult, but it was something else to feel the struggle of that 4 AM – 6 AM window (also known as 3 PM – 5 PM Central Time) where it’s tough to keep a clear head. As I powered through, I was in awe of this team who stayed focused and worked diligently through the entire shift. When you leave work for the day, the sun is just rising and most regular businesses are closed, though there are a few vendors at the Central Terminal peddling Filipino street food to the night shift workers heading home for…the day. Just as the sun is reaching its peak, it’s time to head to bed. It’s a totally different reality, indeed. 

I also enjoyed my coworkers joining me outside of the office during non-working hours, introducing me to delicious (masarap) foods and tutoring me in basic Tagalog phrases – magandang gabi, good evening! Throughout my time there, I had the opportunity to appreciate the incredible dedication and talent of my full-time team with renewed energy and demonstrate to them their value to our operation.  

Even prior to my visit, I’ve worked hard to ensure the team feels valued and has the same commitment to our FFS clients as I do. They are not just workers or laborers. They are human beings with feelings and families – they get sick and they experience both personal and professional stresses, just like any other employee. I want working for me to be their best career opportunity and incentivize them, not just financially but also emotionally, to deliver their very best to our clients.  

You can see this in the quality of their work; before a meeting with a client one day, one of our team members was nervous about a pending contract because she said she “put her heart and soul” into the client’s work. This team feels the same emotions I do, and I want to ensure I recognize their passion and hard work. 

If you want to trust your team and see their commitment to your clients or products, invest in them, whether they are in the cubicle next to yours or time zones and oceans away. The team at Fritz Financial Solutions takes great pride in the financial safety we provide for our clients, and the dedication and talent of our team members in the Philippines are a crucial part of our success.